In Philippines election, priests opposed to Marcos turn pink

Philippine's Vice-President and opposition presidential candidate Leni Robredo greets supporters during a meet and greet event at a church ground in Silang town, Cavite province, west of Manila on March 4, 2022. - AFP

MANILA (Reuters): When Philippine Catholic priest Father Nap Baltazar raised his hands to bless the people attending mass, the sleeves on his white vestment slid back to reveal a pink bracelet inscribed with the words "Let Leni Lead".

Baltazar, 47, belongs to a group of like-minded priests in Asia's biggest Catholic nation who have abandoned their neutrality to oppose the presidential bid of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the late dictator's son and namesake, and openly endorse his closest rival Leni Robredo, whose team colour is pink.